Supply Chain Research

The Panama Canal snapped two months of declines in March with a 2% increase on a year earlier in vessel transits. That was led by an increase in neopanamax transits, with the result that the volume-adjusted growth was 10% for the month and 5% for the first quarter. Maintenance was cut vs. original plans, adding 6% to capacity in March and as much as 12% in April. The increased activity led to further diversions of Asian traffic into the U.S. east coast instead of the west coast. Shipments from eight major Asian markets to California fell 18% in March, whereas ports east of Panama Canal s...